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THE VISION OF BRIGITTE JALBERT
For Brigitte Jalbert, the path to entrepreneurship was not clear. Today, the businesswoman is president of an established company in Quebec and has learned to recognize her leadership qualities.
Right at the beginning, when Brigitte Jalbert summarizes her career, she confirms that the path to management was far from being part of her plans. And for good reason, she published a book in 2022 called “The CEO Who Never Thought She Would Become One.” “I knew I was on my “X” at 45,” the CEO says with a laugh.
At first it was just a summer job as she almost reluctantly joined the ranks of Emballages Carrousel, founded by her father in 1971. At Cégep, Brigitte Jalbert was more interested in photography before graduating from high school, collecting three university degrees in very different fields. At the same time, she quietly and secretly joined the work team, which at that time consisted of about thirty people. The “fun factor,” as she calls it, has found its way into her. It has now established itself as a core value of the company.
Discover its value
Over time, she realized that listening, humility and passion are worth their weight in gold and cannot be acquired in school. “At times I was afraid that I was not up to the task and I doubted my knowledge of the business world to serve as company president. » Little by little, she discovered the leadership qualities that her colleagues found in her. Confidence has found its way into the language of Brigitte Jalbert, who eventually took on the role of CEO in 2011. “Today I consider emotional intelligence to be even more important than knowledge itself.” »
The sixty-year-old is now expressing loudly and clearly what she has always been convinced of. “I tell myself: When employees are happy and well and feel in a safe space where they can develop and achieve their full potential, THEN profits follow. » If some male colleagues once interpreted this as a form of naivety, the company's success seems to prove Brigitte Jalbert right. In the ten years following his appointment, Emballages Carrousel saw its turnover and number of employees double.
Turn challenges into opportunities
Sensitive to the environmental challenges of our time, the building contractor does not allow herself to be seduced by the status quo, which she finds uncomfortable. “I like innovation, risk, daring and new ideas. » Since 2019, Emballages Carrousel has launched several initiatives to better conserve the planet's resources, including the most recent, the Éco-innov knowledge center. It is a collaborative space that brings together, publicizes and promotes laws and best practices related to sustainable development among customers and suppliers. In this way, Emballages Carrousel is positioning itself as an industry leader and paving the way for the environment to become part of the thinking of companies of all sizes across the country.
The institution is making good use of the space it has gained in the market. “In a way, we have the necessary influence to shape the course of events with our suppliers and our customers. » In collaboration with Polykar, Emballages Carrousel has also introduced Carrou-Cycle. The stretch film recycling initiative (pallet film) won the 2023 Circular Initiatives Prize, awarded by Québec Circulaire and RECYC-QUÉBEC.
From CEO to mentor
The next step for Brigitte Jalbert is to lead her team to achieve the ambitious goal of making the family project a must for environmentally conscious packaging. She is quietly and secretly preparing for the succession with the aim of keeping the promise she made to her father: never to sell the company to a multinational corporation.
She will release her second book, Mentors: Unfiltered Conversations with Local Businesswomen, on April 23, 2024. It tells twelve stories of women who, like her, have brilliantly overcome their doubts and insecurities. “I think there are as many leaders as there are people. You can be a leader with your own colors, of course with your strengths, but also your weaknesses. » Her journey alone demonstrates the magnitude of her humility and her ability to positively influence future generations of women.
This content was created by Le Devoir's special publications team in collaboration with the advertiser. The Le Devoir editorial team was not involved in the creation of this content.
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